Lucy a



( L) J. Y. JONES, Deod.

L. A. JONES, Administratrix. CORN PLANTBR.

- No. 367,407. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Y. JONES, OF WESTERN COLLEGE, IOIVA; LUCY A. JONES ADMINIS- TRATRIX OF SAID JOHN Y. JONES, DECEASED.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,407,1lated August 2, 1887,

Application tiled November '23, 1886. Serial No. 219550.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN Y. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at NVestern College, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce an automatic corn planter adapted to operate without the use of check-wires; and the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts to that end, as will be fully hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a I 5 part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the invention, the nearer seed-looxes being removed, so as to expose the mechanism beyond; Fig. 2, a plan View of the same'with a portion of the seatre- 2o moved, and Fig. 3 an enlarged detail of the auxiliary seed-box and the dropping mechanism.

Similarletters ofreferenceindi cate like parts. I This invention belongs to that class of plantand in the adaptation of the principle to prac tical operation I have devised certain novel features, which I will now describe.

A isthe frame of an ordinary corn-planter mounted on suitable coveringwheels. The forward end is hinged to the cross-beam A in the usual manner. A simple form of seat, B, is shown, it being such as to enable the oper- 3 5 ator to readily adjust his position thereon for the purpose of tilting it, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. In practice I make the rear supports of the seat flaring at the lower ends, as shown, while the forward ones are 0 preferably parallel to admit of the attachment of levers and other. parts, as will be hereinafter described.

The covering -wheels of the planter are mounted on a suitable axle,in connection with ratchet-wheels Z Z,in a common and well-known manner. To the axle is secured a cam-wheel, K, which I make in two similar parts, as shown, which admits of an exact adjustment of the same on the shaft, and with respect to the size of the roller a on the lever L. This 'leveris mounted on a cross-timber of the frame make ajoint in it ashort distance forward of the traveler a, as shown. A spring, 72, tends to depress the end of the lever and throw it into engagement with the cam-wheel, while the contiguous parts of the lever, bifurcated as shown, impart to the hinged portion the requisite lateral stiffness. A eord,c, connects with the hinged part of the lever, and, passing up over a sheave, s, mounted under the fore part-of the seat, connects with the pole G.

and tilts the machine to theposition indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the result there shown. Similarly, if he does not de sire to lift the runners out of the ground, he simply pulls back-on the rear portion of the cord,with the same result. The forward end of the leverLpasses between two uprightpins, hh, rising from the main slide-rod M. To admit of any slight adjustment that may be de 8" sired,these pins are secured to a slotted plate, at, which is fastened to the slide-rod by suitable' bolts or screws.

Outside of the main seedboxes EE are placed two auxiliary seed-boxes, F F, which drop their contents outside the path of the covering-wheels. The object of this device is to enable the operator to designate with certainty the position of the hill of covered corn, and thus secure the proper transverse alignment of the rows. The auxiliary boxes are therefore set so as to drop a few kernels of corn just in line laterally with the corn that is covered, and are set lower than the others, so that the operation of the slide therein will I00 By this means the rear end of 60 coincide with that in the heel of the run ncr, and the corn from the respeetii e boxes reach the ground at the same time. The secdslides of these auxiliary boxes are operated by the slide-rod N through the medium of a lever,q, pivoted inside the box to the lugs r, and engaging at the foot with the slide t. As it is not necessary that this part should be in continuous operation,the machine isprovided with a device whereby it is engaged and disengaged at will. In the upper side of the sliderod N,underthe lever L, is a notch, 0, adapted to engage with a corresponding lug on the under side of the leverp.

Over the lever, and wide enough to allow it to move unobstructed from one extreme to the other, is a stirrup, g, resting upon the forward end of a foot-lever, f. The weight of the slide-rod causes it ordinarily to sag in the middle, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which case it is out of engagement with the leverL. Aslight pressure upon the pedalf throws it in gear, continuing at the will of the operator.

In order that the machine may operate successfully, itis necessary to provide a comparatively clear smooth path for the coveringwheels, since upon their movement depends the position of the hills. I therefore connect with the planter, preferably in front of the runners II II, two shovels or shares, J J, which cut off projecting clods and tend to fill up hollows in front of the wheels, making a level path for them to follow. They also aid in the proper planting of the seed, since by leveling the surface they provide for the even and uniform covering of the grain. In practice I set these shares diagonal, as shown, like a common plowshare, connecting them with the runners by the rods 07 Q. 17, of unequal length. By means of an upwardlyextending shank passing through a suitable eye, a, the altitude of these shares may be adjusted by the set-screws. Similar provision is made for clearing the path before the auxiliary seed-boxes, as a projecting elod or other object would tend to throw the dropping grain out of its proper position. These, being only occasionally required, are adapted to be controlled by the foot of the operator. A simple bail of light strong material, as gaspipe, having the shovels at the ends of the terminal arms, is pivoted to the fore part of the frame. A spring, a, under each arm supports the shovel out of the ground. An arm, 7.", connects by a rod, (1, with a bellcrank, 0, having a pedal, 0. By pressing down on the pedal the shovels are forced to and into the ground, as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a corn-planter, the combination of the cam-wheel K, the vibrating lever or arm L, having the rollers a and a, the track a, and the slide-rod \I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of the hinged lever L, the hinged frame A and A, the cord 0, and the sheave s, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the flexible auxiliary slide N, adapted to bend downward, as specified, and having the notch 0 and the stirrup g, the lever L, having the lug 1), and the foot-lever f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the pivoted bail or frame for the shovels I I, having the arm It, the foot-lever e c, the connecting-rod (Z, and the spring 1;, all substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of shares J J, adjusting devices it 11, rods and runners II II, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Y. JONES.

Witnesses:

A. J. Losnv, WM. LANGIIAM. 

